National

Republicans shift gaze toward Canada-U.S. border

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Feb, 2023 10:56 AM

WASHINGTON - A group of Republicans on Capitol Hill is turning its gaze towards Canada as it ramps up political criticism of President Joe Biden's immigration strategy.

Rep. Mike Kelly from Pennsylvania and Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke are launching a new congressional caucus focused on immigration, crime and national security at the Canada-U.S. border.

🚨NEW🚨
I'm chairing the new Northern Border Security Caucus with @RepRyanZinke. The numbers don’t lie: the Biden administration’s open-border policies have allowed for a surge in human & drug trafficking from Canada into the U.S. Details on our efforts⬇️https://t.co/REqKD9wQOR
— Rep. Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyPA) February 27, 2023

The "Northern Border Security Caucus," to be officially announced Tuesday, is being billed as bipartisan, although it's unclear if any of its 28 members are Democrats.

Republicans in Congress are usually far more focused on the U.S.-Mexico border, where illegal immigration is one of the Biden administration's weakest political flanks.

But that may be changing, thanks to a steady increase in the number of "encounters" being reported at or near the Canadian frontier with people in the country illegally.

From October through January, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 55,736 such encounters, more than half of the total number from the 2022 fiscal year.

Caucus members "are concerned about the increased human and drug trafficking, along with the decrease in Border Patrol agents and lack of security, along the U.S.-Canada border," Kelly's office said in a news release.

"Recent news reports, along with data compiled over the past two years, show a surge in illegal migrant crossings and drug trafficking across the northern border."

House Republicans expected to attend Tuesday's launch include North Dakota Rep. Kelly Armstrong, Minnesota Rep. Pete Stauber, Rep. Claudia Tenney of New York, Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain and Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas.

Officials from the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents U.S. Border Patrol agents, are also expected to attend Tuesday's event, including vice-president and Fox News fixture Hector Garza.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. public school teachers ratify new contract

It boosts annual salaries for new teachers as much as $8,500 by the end of the third year while B.C.'s highest-paid educators will earn up to $13,500 more over the same period, which Johnston says pushes them above the $100,000-per-year threshold for the first time.

B.C. public school teachers ratify new contract

Arctic cold descends on parts of B.C.

Arctic outflow warnings have been posted for B.C.’s central and northern coasts, with the wind chill predicted at minus 20. Special weather statements are also up for most of Vancouver Island and the south coast, with icy conditions and wind chills near minus 10.

Arctic cold descends on parts of B.C.

Street drugs kill another 179 people in B.C.

The coroner says the October statistics show that illicit drugs caused the deaths of 1,827 people in B.C. in the first 10 months of this year. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says the increased toxicity and variability of street drugs has created an environment where everyone who uses substances is at risk.

Street drugs kill another 179 people in B.C.

Metro Vancouver storm creates traffic chaos

Several crashes blocked the Alex Fraser Bridge, one of the main arteries over the Fraser River. The route was closed for hours in both directions over safety concerns, the government said.

Metro Vancouver storm creates traffic chaos

Guns seized including a Ghost gun, charges sworn against Surrey man, Baljit Singh Nijjar

32-year-old Baljit Singh Nijjar of Surrey has been charged with multiple firearms charges including unauthorized possession of a prohibited/restricted firearm and possession of a prohibited/restricted firearm without a license.

Guns seized including a Ghost gun, charges sworn against Surrey man, Baljit Singh Nijjar

Vancouver Police are investigating 2 homicides that took place a week apart

The victim was located inside an apartment building on East Hastings near Carrall Street. VPD’s Homicide Unit has identified the victim as Joseph Kelly. No arrests have been made, and anyone with information is asked to call Vancouver Police.